To be a certified Friend of the Sea, aquariums must not only meet strict sustainable policies, waste management, and social responsibility but also commit to displaying comprehensive scientific information related to each species housed, offering annual educational courses for their visitors. The certificate also ensures that aquariums meet the highest animal welfare standards and prevent mammals from being trapped unless notable exceptions are made.
Aquarium Pula is located in a 130-year-old Austro-Hungarian building with a beautiful view of the historic port of Pula, conveniently set to experience the beauty of the sea fully. Today, the former fortress abounds in the marine world, which is mainly found in the Adriatic Sea, Croatian lakes and rivers, but also in seas around the world.
Aquarium Pula started as a private family venture by biologist Dr. Milena Mičić in 2000 and has grown into the largest aquarium in Croatia.
“The aquarium boasts one of the most diverse displays of Mediterranean life in Europe and numerous tropical exhibits displayed on an area of more than 3,000 m2,” said Dr. Milena Mičić, director of Aquarium Pula.
Dr. Milena Mičić started the aquarium with marine conservation based on basic activities, which today is widely known for its high-quality water experience, but also intensive research and environmental education. Aquarium Pula places a strong emphasis on educational tourism by organizing a series of activities and workshops to raise awareness of the many threats facing the ocean and the preservation of biology.
Aquarium Pula has received a lot of positive media attention due to its involvement in numerous ongoing conservation programs. The most important are: the Sea Turtle Rescue Center and the Noble Armor Sanctuary, both recognized by the Croatian Government.
Since 2001, Aquarium Pula has saved, rehabilitated, and returned more than 180 sea turtles. It was jointly praised in cooperation with the Croatian government and other partners (national parks, universities, public bodies, NGOs) for the preservation of Pinna Nobilis, a shell that is critically endangered after one of the most ruthless pathogenic disasters that brought the shell to the brink of extinction.
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